How a Canadian City Saves Water via Smart Water Sensor

The city of Guelph – situated just 100 km west of Toronto, Ontario Canada – is home to over 120,000 people. It’s a fast-growing city; its water supply, however, isn’t.

For its water supply, the city only depends on groundwater. This dependency on groundwater leaves the city low on water supply specifically during summer months and droughts.

Last summer, to reduce the city’s water consumption, the city commenced a water challenge to look for a partner that offers the best smart meter/leak detection solution that’s sold directly to consumers. The city sets the following criteria for the best smart meter/leak detection solution:

Alert Labs responded to the water challenge by offering its Flowie water sensor and Floodie companion sensor – water sensors that send real-time alerts to a customer’s smartphone for emergencies like floods or leaks. In September 2016, Alert Labs won the city of Guelph’s water challenge with its conservation tech: Flowie water sensor and Floodie companion sensor.

The Flowie water sensor takes real-time readings from standard residential and commercial water meters. This water sensor can simply be installed in just 2 minutes by strapping it onto the water meter. It automatically connects to the cellular network. No need for a wi-fi connection. The sensor sends to your computer, tablet or smartphone real-time monitoring of water consumption, analyzes trends and reports valuable analytics.

The Floodie companion sensor, meanwhile, sends you alerts to your computer, tablet or smartphone whenever it comes in contact with water.

The city of Guelph has the Flowie Water Sensor Rebate program which covers the Flowie water sensor and Floodie companion sensor. Alert Labs, the maker of Flowie water sensor and Floodie companion sensor, gives a $50 instant rebate for Guelph residents who install water sensors for their homes or businesses.

How the City of Guelph Saves Money via Smart Water Sensor

The city of Guelph installed the Flowie water sensor at the city’s Sleeman Centre and the West End Recreational Centre.

According to Mathew Newman, Water Services technician of the city of Guelph and an expert in investigating high water use issues with homeowners and businesses, when they strapped the Flowie water sensor onto the water meter of the Sleeman Centre, the sensor and data it provided gave the city “a lot of opportunities to show where we can save water and make the systems a bit more efficient”.

Newman similarly found that when they strapped the Flowie water sensor onto the water meter of the West End Recreational Centre, they were able to establish when exactly is the water peak demand, when exactly Zambonis are filled, when swimming pools are filled and when showers are used. By getting a clear diagnostic of what is being used, the city was able “to find ways to improve efficiency”, Newman said.

According to Newman, it’s not the only city government of Guelph that saves money as a result of using smart water sensor, but the city’s residents as well. He said one day, the owners of a local restaurant complained to the city’s Water Services about the sudden increase of the restaurant’s water bill.

When the Flowie water sensor was strapped onto the municipal water meter of the restaurant, the positive impact was almost immediate, Newman said. “It was clear as soon as we strapped it on that water was running constantly 24 /7, all throughout the night and all throughout the day,” he said.

He said that the minute-by-minute water data sent by the Flowie water sensor suggested a major leak. Further investigation by the city’s Water Services revealed a broken valve on the restaurant’s noisy ice machine, which resulted in 24/7 running of water into the ice machine and literally down the drain. When the broken valve on the ice machine was fixed, Newman said that the restaurant saved $630 per month in water costs.

According to Newman, water issues in homes are caused 95% of the time by a malfunctioning toilet or a malfunctioning water softener. “It really only takes one incident like a toilet flapper sticking or a water softener malfunctioning for the Flowie to pay for itself,” he said.

Flowie Sensor Applications

For your home, you can strap the Flowie water sensor onto your municipal water meter, while the companion flood sensor can be placed under or near flood-risk areas, such as hot water toilets, heaters, laundry areas, sinks, dishwashers and garages.

You can install these two conservation devices by yourself in just 2 minutes without the need of technical knowledge or tools. Unlike other smart devices that need to be connected to a wi-fi, these two devices connect to the internet without the need of a wi-fi.

In addition to providing you real-time information about water consumption, leaks and floods, the Flowie sensor also gives you the following real-time information to your computer, tablet or smartphone:

Property power status

Power outage notifications

Power restored notifications

Outdoor / Indoor Temperature

Outdoor / Indoor Humidity

Storm warnings

Dropping temp warnings

Freezing pipe alerts

The Flowie sensor doesn’t just give you minute-by-minute status of your water system, power system and heating and cooling system. It also provides you with data analytics – giving you daily and monthly average water consumption, basement temperature versus outdoor temperature and many more. To receive minute-by-minute information from the Flowie sensor, as well as data analytics, you need to install the Alert Labs app on your computer or mobile phone.

The web and mobile dashboards of the Alert Labs app provide you with instant visibility of the different status of a number of sensors placed in different locations or properties. This visibility is ideal if you’re a property manager or a landlord.

Connect with us today to learn more about how to safe money and protect your biggest investment

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These terms and conditions govern the Simply Smart Home Inc. (Simply Smart”, “we”, “us” and “our”) for in-home visit and installation of a Google Home Mini (the “Product”) at your home (the “Property”).
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The Nest Product is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Only one (1) Nest Product per primary residence will be installed.
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To participate in the Program:
(i) you must be the legal age of majority in your province or territory of residence; (ii) you must be the lawful homeowner of a single detached, semi-detached or townhouse; and (iii) you must allow a representative of Simply Smart to come to your Property, during reasonable hours and upon prior notice to and consent by you, to perform the smart home consultation and install the Nest Product; (iv) you must have an active Enbridge account.
You acknowledge and agree that your participation in the Program is based on your assessment of the Program and is not based on any reliance on anticipated or projected results.
Please read these terms and conditions carefully. By using this website, registering for the Program and clicking below to accept these terms and conditions, you confirm your consent to, and agree to comply with and be bound by, these terms and conditions and our Privacy Policy and you represent and warrant that you meet all of the foregoing eligibility requirements for the Program.

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You authorize a representative of Simply Smart to enter your Property, during reasonable hours and upon prior notice to and consent by you, for the purposes of: (i) the installation of the Nest Product at your Property; and (ii) the performance of an in-home smart home consultation, which will be a survey to assess solutions for your Property.

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Your Property must be in suitable condition for the installation of the Nest Product, as such condition shall be determined by Simply Smart at its sole discretion in accordance with applicable standards and requirements for the installation of equipment of similar type. Specifically, Nest Thermostat E installations require proper wiring conditions. Should these conditions not be met during the initial appointment, Simply Smart is not obligated to attend again. Furthermore, Nest Thermostat E is only compatible with single stage system fans. Variable speed fans, high voltage forced air systems with fans, and proprietary systems with fan are not compatible with the Nest Thermostat E. This offer is only available to homes with proper 5 wire conditions or a common wire maker can be installed for an additional charge of $150.00.

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Except as expressly set forth in these term and conditions, Simply Smart makes no representation or warranty, either written or oral, express or implied, statutory or otherwise, with respect to the Nest Product or its manufacturer, or with respect to the Nest Product’s adequacy, safety, workmanship, quality, legal compliance, fitness, accuracy, or suitability for any purpose, and to the extent permitted by applicable law, Simply Smart shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising from the installation or use of the Nest Product.
If the Nest Product does not operate as indicated by the manufacturer or is unsatisfactory for any reason, you shall have no recourse against Simply Smart and Simply Smart shall have no obligation to replace the Nest Product (or any deficient part thereof) or remove the Nest Product from your Property.

4. Force Majeure.
Simply Smart shall not be liable for delays or failure to install the Nest Product or perform any obligations hereunder in the event of causes beyond Simply Smart’s control, whether or not such causes are provided for specifically herein, provided however that Simply Smart will notify you as soon as reasonably possible in the event of any delay in the installation of the Nest Product on your scheduled installation date.

5. Privacy.
Simply Smart is committed to protecting the personal information in its custody or control in accordance with applicable privacy laws. You may access or obtain a copy of Simply Smart’s Privacy Policy, which describes how we may collect, use and disclose information.
You acknowledge and agree that you will be required to agree to separate terms and conditions and privacy policies relating to the operation of your Nest Product once installed, including if you choose to register for the Nest mobile application on any device(s) connected to the Nest Product.

6. Indemnification.
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7. Governing Law.
Except to the extent that the laws of the province or territory in which you reside require that the laws of such province or territory apply to these terms and conditions and the Program offered herein, this website and these terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein, without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision, principle or rule.